Bookshelf Speakers

[bwana5_2009]

Hi,
I've been told by the other half that the Pioneer tower speakers won't be going on show in the loungeroom of the new house we're building. I'm under instructions to track down a nice dainty pair of bookshelf speakers instead. Basically, I know pretty much zero about speakers, so to start my search was wondering if someone could give me some basic "rules" on what I should be looking for. I've been reading stuff about frequency response / range, but then I read something else that says not to worry about it.

Basically, I want something versatile that can handle bass, but also produce a nice crisp sound. ...and it has to be all wrapped up in something small. *sigh* I was looking at teh B&W 685. Has anyone had any experience with this model?

Thanks,

[stuartypoorty]

Hi,
I've been told by the other half that the Pioneer tower speakers won't be going on show in the loungeroom of the new house we're building. I'm under instructions to track down a nice dainty pair of bookshelf speakers instead. Basically, I know pretty much zero about speakers, so to start my search was wondering if someone could give me some basic "rules" on what I should be looking for. I've been reading stuff about frequency response / range, but then I read something else that says not to worry about it.

Basically, I want something versatile that can handle bass, but also produce a nice crisp sound. ...and it has to be all wrapped up in something small. *sigh* I was looking at teh B&W 685. Has anyone had any experience with this model?

Thanks,

Hi bwana5,

The NHT Absolute Zeros have WAF aplenty, discrete, nicely finished and for their relative dimensions fairly good in the lower register.

http://www.amazon.com/NHT-N-AZB-Absolute-Speaker-Black/dp/B000BYNP7K

[Scorpion8]

Usually bookshelf speakers and good bass response aren't words that go hand-in-hand. When you give up cabinet volume, you tend to give up lower frequencies unless the designer plays some sort of trick. They have gotten better over time with modern drivers, but you may find a sub as a needed item.

If you're looking for vintage speakers, I would suggest some Boston A-40's, Infinity RSe, Advent Baby-II, or Paradigm 3Se/Monitor 3. All will do well IMHO.

[retrokeeper]

When I was at Innovative Audio last week,Gordon was auditioning a set of B&W bookshelf speakers for a customer,and I was very impressed with their sound and tonal quality for such a small speaker!! I did not get the model # from Gordon,and checking Ebay,B&W speakers photos of ones that were up for auction,they were either the 560's,the 600's or the 610's.I know if I ever see a pair of these,I'm grabbing them without hesitation!! Rob

[Elite-ist]

I have a Celestion DL-5 downstairs, which for a two way speaker is surprisingly competent, and very nice to listen to. The Celestion DL-6 has many followers, too.

Nando.

[Warped Bezel]

I've owned Baby IIs, they are not happy with over 30 watts normally.

They might not have WAF but I've rebuilt more than one pair and the "Active crossover" models can kick some serious heinie.

My 3-way 4-speaker CS-K835s have FB 12" woofers, original mid-bass 8", 70s mids and then 70s Onkyo tweeters. All Pioneer except for the tweeters and the Infinity RS-4000 cabs with CS-06 8", CTS mids adapted to the holes and Foster/RS square horns look like the Pioneers some and were a really fun job too!

Explain to your wife that it's likely a good idea to use what you have and wait until your new home expenses are in line better.

Then you take her around to look and hear and let her choose with you.

This is how WAF is achieved. She's in on this with you. Promise her this if she helps you with getting into this house without too many troubles as well.

We have had one member with an ongoing foreclosure experience and others who struggle making their payments and it needs to be a frugal process to begin with. My parents just finally became renters for good in their mid-late sixties so I have so experiences with the process in the ten-year process since dad's wrists could no longer fix cars for a living.


Usually bookshelf speakers and good bass response aren't words that go hand-in-hand. When you give up cabinet volume, you tend to give up lower frequencies unless the designer plays some sort of trick. They have gotten better over time with modern drivers, but you may find a sub as a needed item.

If you're looking for vintage speakers, I would suggest some Boston A-40's, Infinity RSe, Advent Baby-II, or Paradigm 3Se/Monitor 3. All will do well IMHO.

[Pacific Stereo]

I used to be an NHT dealer. If their current products are as nice as their old ones, they rock!

I'm not affiliated, but I've heard these recently and like them very much. I've even got the GF convinced that we can replace her old Infinities with these.

See if the WAF is better with something like this as opposed to the Pioneers.

http://www.goldenear.com/products/triton-two-tower

[Warped Bezel]

I thought we were supposed to find something for the wife's aesthethics *footmouth**flame*

[Pacific Stereo]

As I said, even my GF likes these.

[Socal Sam]

Hi,
I've been told by the other half that the Pioneer tower speakers won't be going on show in the loungeroom of the new house we're building. I'm under instructions to track down a nice dainty pair of bookshelf speakers instead. Basically, I know pretty much zero about speakers, so to start my search was wondering if someone could give me some basic "rules" on what I should be looking for. I've been reading stuff about frequency response / range, but then I read something else that says not to worry about it.

Basically, I want something versatile that can handle bass, but also produce a nice crisp sound. ...and it has to be all wrapped up in something small. *sigh* I was looking at teh B&W 685. Has anyone had any experience with this model?

Thanks,

Here is my take on bookshelf speakers. Go with them only if WAF problems, which you have. Two way with a tweeter and a 6 inch or less woofer is the typical layout. Get a ported cabinet to help the woofer breath. I prefer a Titanium dome as the tweeter has midrange duty as well and need the extra spark from a metal reflector. Small woofers are too close to the ideal midrange size so it is not surprising that they tend to act like midranges. B&W will bump up the bass with x-over tuning but that leaves too much for the tweeter to handle. Models like the 805 Matrix have a notable hole in the midrange. I prefer tuning that does not try to create bass where really none is possible. IMO, midrange cohesion is far more important than the last 100 Hz of bass. Midrange is where the main music elements are, it is where the action is. BTW, I comparo'd my $5 satellite speakers against the $750 805 Matrix and it was no contest. The cheapo speakers had much better tuning and was much more musical.

[Warped Bezel]

I have a similar feeling about my DIYs. The towers hardly cost me and the mids and 12" are from a set of parts gleaned from a set of three with damaged cabinets. The tweeters came from ruined CBS Masterwork wedge shaped speakers. A pair of CS-R590 was also saved by this set, with Altec tweeters. The Infinities? Free cabs, transferred the CS-06, the mids were saved from an old organ and the Foster horns I can't remember but they came to me at least two years ago in a group of different tweeters.

I have a complete set of CS-A31 parts now, if I only had the cabinets?

One of the best bookshelf pairs I ever had were BIC Venturi Formula Twos. They were quite well designed in my opinion and triple fused as well and sometimes I had to adjust to not blow a fuse but the crossovers were versatile and I really enjoyed them with my Sansui 5050 and the both only cost me $9.

[bwana5_2009]

Thanks for the advice.

I think I may have lodged a convincing argument for a set of more contemporary slim-line towers. We'll just need to get out and audition some. What a relief!

Meanwhile, has anyone seen or heard these??
http://www.avantgarde-acoustic.de/hornlautsprecher_einleitung.php?produkt=solo&produkt_id=1&t=einleitung

Waaaayyyyyy out of my price range, but they look pretty cool.